Snap fastener

ABSTRACT

A male snap component is provided which is particularly useful for replacing an existing male snap component of a snap fastener which has been pulled free from a panel within which is was supported. The male snap component comprises a head, a shank extending from the head and an anchor threadably supported on the shank at a location spaced from the head. The anchor has a plurality of gripping fingers extending in a longitudinal direction of the shank from the anchor towards the head at an outward incline away from the shank in a relaxed position for engaging an opposite side of the panel as the head when inserted through a bore formed in the panel where the previous male snap component was located. The fingers flex inwardly to permit insertion of the anchor through the bore from an accessible side of the panel. Subsequent rotation of the shank clamps the panel between the head and anchor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a snap fastener and moreparticularly to a male component of a snap fastener which is arranged tobe anchored in a supporting surface.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Snap fasteners are commonly used on vehicles, for example boats,campers and the like, for anchoring textile covers thereon whilepermitting the covers to be readily removed by releasing the snapfasteners. In boats, the male snap component of the fastener istypically rigidly secured to a body of the boat by threading the malesnap component to a fiberglass panel of the body of the boat. Repeatedconnection and disconnection of the mating female snap component of thecover with the male snap component however, tends to pull the male snapcomponent free from the fiberglass panel of the body while causingsufficient damage to the panel that simply threading the male snapcomponent back into the panel does not rigidly secure it to the body ofthe boat. Also a backside of the panel is typically inaccessible, makingit more difficult to repair a male snap component which has been pulledfree from a fiberglass panel.

[0003] Conventional male snap components in fiberglass panels which havebeen pulled free from the panel are commonly repaired by filling theoriginal installation hole with a liquid repair compound which becomesrigid when set. The compound is then re-drilled for the installation ofa new screw type male snap component. This method of repair is tedious,costly and of inadequate strength and quality as compared to an originalinstallation.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,911 to Terrels et al, provides a snapfastener having a male snap component which is arranged to replace aconventional threaded male snap component which has been pulled freefrom its respective panel. The male snap component of Terrel et al isformed in two parts including an anchor member received within a bore inthe panel and a wedge member having the snap head thereon which isslidably received within the anchor member for expanding the anchormember in the bore when the wedge member is received therein. Pulling onthe snap head when removing a female snap component mounted thereonhowever, acts in a direction to pull the wedge member from the anchormember, thus releasing the anchor member from the bore within which itis intended to be secured.

SUMMARY

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there isprovided a male snap component for mating with a female snap componentof a snap fastener in which the female snap component comprises a socketwith an annular periphery which is movable from a relaxed position to aflexed position in which the annular periphery has a greatercircumference than the relaxed position and in which the annularperiphery is urged under tension back to the relaxed position, the malesnap component comprising:

[0006] a head having an annular sidewall with a main portion ofcircumference approximately equal to the circumference of the annularperiphery of the female snap component in the relaxed position;

[0007] a shank extending from the head; and

[0008] an anchor threadably supported on the shank at a location spacedfrom the head and having a plurality of gripping fingers extending in alongitudinal direction of the shank from the anchor towards the head.

[0009] The use of an anchor secured to the shank having gripping fingersextending upwardly towards the head ensures that the male snap componentof the fastener is adequately secured when mounted through thefiberglass panel of a boat for example. Upward pulling motion on thehead of the snap fastener only acts to engage the fingers with the panelinstead of pulling the male snap component free as in the prior artnoted above.

[0010] The fingers are preferably spaced circumferentially about shankand arranged to project towards the head at an outward incline away fromthe shank. Also, the fingers are preferably flexible between aninserting position adjacent the shank and an anchoring position spacedoutwardly from the shank. The male snap component can thus be mounted inthe panel structure of the body of a boat and the like without requiringaccess to the other side of the panel structure as the flexible fingerspermit insertion from above.

[0011] A spacer may be supported about the shank adjacent the head whichis arranged to centre the shank in a bore within which the shank isinserted.

[0012] In one arrangement, the spacer comprises a collar threadablysupported on the shank. Alternatively, the spacer may comprise a collarformed about the shank adjacent the head.

[0013] A stop member may be mounted on the shank opposite the head withthe anchor being supported on the shank between the head and the stopmember. The stop member preferably comprises a collar arranged to besecured about the shank for restricting removal of the anchor from theshank. The collar may be formed of resilient material which is fitsnugly on the shank.

[0014] There may be provided a washer formed of nylon supported aboutthe shank between the head and the anchor. A washer is particularlyuseful when replacing a pulled out male snap fastener for concealingsurrounding crack marks and the like caused by the male snap fastenerbeing pulled out.

[0015] The head preferably includes a flared upper portion extendingfrom the main portion opposite the shank having a greater circumferencethan the main portion.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention there isprovided a method of replacing an existing male snap component of a snapfastener supported in a bore extending through a panel structure whichis arranged to mate with a female snap component in which the femalesnap component comprises a socket with an annular periphery which ismovable from a relaxed position to a flexed position in which theannular periphery has a greater circumference than the relaxed positionand in which the annular periphery is urged under tension back to therelaxed position, said method comprising:

[0017] removing the existing male snap component from the bore in thepanel structure;

[0018] providing a replacement male snap component comprising a headhaving an annular sidewall with a main portion of circumferenceapproximately equal to the circumference of the annular periphery of thefemale snap component in the relaxed position, a shank extending fromthe head, and an anchor threadably supported on the shank at a locationspaced from the head, the anchor having a plurality of gripping fingersextending in a longitudinal direction of the shank from the anchortowards the head at an outward incline away from the shank in a relaxedposition;

[0019] inserting the shank of the replacement male snap component intothe bore in the panel by flexing the fingers inwardly towards the shankuntil the head and anchor are located on opposing sides of the panelstructure;

[0020] engaging the fingers with the panel structure; and

[0021] rotating the shank relative to the anchor until the panelstructure is clamped between the head and anchor.

[0022] The method may include enlarging a diameter of the bore in thepanel structure to conceal surrounding cracks from a pulled out existingmale snap component before inserting the replacement male snapcomponent. The enlarged bore preferably has a diameter which is greaterthan a diameter of the shank and which is less than a diameter of thefingers in the relaxed position. Upon insertion into the bore, thefingers are preferably flexed adjacent the shank to fit within the bore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention:

[0024]FIG. 1 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the malesnap component.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a partly sectional side elevational view of the malesnap component according to FIG. 1 upon insertion into the fiberglasspanel of a boat body.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a top plan view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a sectional view from above along the line 4-4 of FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated areplacement male component of a snap fastener generally indicated byreference numeral 10. The replacement male component 10 is particularlyuseful for vehicles, for example boats, campers and the like, wheretextile covers, for example vinyl or canvas, are secured to the body ofthe vehicle using snap fasteners. The male snap component 10 is arrangedto replace an existing male snap component which has been pulled freefrom a panel structure, as in the fiberglass panels of the body of aboat.

[0029] In a conventional boat fastener, the existing male snap componentis secured to a fiberglass panel 12 having a hardened gel coating 14 onan outer side thereof with an inner side of the panel 12 typically beinginaccessible as the inner side surrounds a hollow interior of the bodyof the boat. A predrilled installation bore is provided in the panel forreceiving the existing male snap component. The existing male snapcomponent includes a head portion for mating with a female snapcomponent 16 on a canvas cover 18 and a screw portion which includestapering threads as in a wood-type screw.

[0030] The female snap component 16 generally comprises a socket havingan annular periphery 20 which is movable from a relaxed position to aflexed position in which an overall circumference of the annularperiphery is increased in relation to the relaxed position and in whichthe annular periphery is urged under tension back to the relaxedposition. The female snap component 16 is suitably sized for mounting onthe existing male snap component for securing the cover 18 to the panel12.

[0031] In use removal of the female snap component pulls upwardly on themale snap component 10 which can cause the male snap component of anexisting boat fastener to be pulled free from the panel causing a brokenedge 22 surrounding the installation bore within which the existing malesnap component was mounted. The broken edge 22 once fractured, is unableto adequately secure a male snap component having a wood-type screwthread thereafter. When using the replacement male snap component 10,the broken edge 22 is drilled out by a replacement bore 24 extendingthrough the panel.

[0032] The replacement male snap component 10 includes a shank 25 whichis generally cylindrical and elongate having a head end 26 and athreaded end 28. An external surface of the shank 28 is threadedexternally as in a machine screw, having a consistent diameter andextending substantially the full length of the shank.

[0033] The shank 25 includes a shank head 30 secured to the head end 26thereof which has a socket 32 for receiving a driver therein, forexample a standard screwdriver bit.

[0034] A snap head 34 is arranged to be secured about the shank head 30so as to define a flat mounting surface 36 at an inner side thereoflying perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the shank 25 forengaging the outer surface of the panel 12 in a mounted position asshown in FIG. 2. The snap head 34 is secured about the shank head 30 ina manner so as be formed integrally therewith. The snap head 34 includesan annular wall 38 having a main portion 39 which is cylindrical with acircumference which is substantially identical to the annular periphery20 of the female snap component in a relaxed position thereof. Theannular wall 38 also includes a flared upper portion 40 at a top endopposite the shank 25 which has a circumference which is slightlygreater than that of the main portion 39 so that the flared portion 40acts as a retainer for securing the annular periphery 20 of the femalesnap component on the main portion of the male snap component 10 in amounted position similarly to conventional snap fasteners.

[0035] The snap head 34 includes an annular flange 42 extending radiallyoutwardly from a base of the snap head so as to lie flush with the flatmounting surface 36 on an inner side thereof. The annular flange 42 isformed integrally with the snap head 34 and is arranged to engage thepanel 12 and conceal a periphery of the replacement bore 24 within whichthe shank 25 is mounted.

[0036] A spacer collar 44 is secured about the shank 25 adjacent thesnap head 34 by internal threads threaded on the shank. The spacercollar 44 has an outer diameter which is substantially identical to thediameter of the replacement bore 24 drilled in the panel, being greaterin circumference than the shank 25 but less than the snap head 34 andannular flange 42 extending therefrom for centering the shank 25 withinthe replacement bore 24 when inserted therein. The spacer collar 44 maybe integrally machined or formed directly on the shank 25 in furtherembodiments. The spacer collar 44 is shorter in depth than the panel 12,and therefore is preferably less than {fraction (3/16)} of an inch asthe thickness of the panels typically varies from {fraction (3/16)} ofan inch to ¼ of an inch in boat applications.

[0037] An anchor 46 is provided in the form of a collar which isthreaded onto the shank 25 spaced from the head end 26. The outerdiameter of the collar of the anchor 46 is slightly less than that ofthe spacer collar 44 and the replacement bore 24. The anchor 46 includesa plurality of gripping fingers 48 which are mounted on the collar ofthe anchor 46 to extend from the top end thereof in the longitudinaldirection of the shank towards the head end 26 at an outward inclineaway from the shank in a relaxed position. Four gripping fingers 48 arepreferred as shown in FIG. 4 at evenly spaced positions about acircumference of the shank.

[0038] The gripping fingers 48 are arranged to be flexed inwardly alongside the shank in a flexed position as shown in dotted line in FIG. 1 inwhich the outer diameter at the free ends 49 of the gripping fingers 48is less than the diameter of the replacement bore 24 to permit insertionof the anchor through the bore when the fingers are flexed.

[0039] A stop member 50 is mounted on the threaded end 28 of the shank.The stop member 50 generally comprises a collar of resilient materialwhich is stretched over the threads of the shank for a snug fit torestrict removal therefrom by friction. The stop member 50 is arrangedto retain the anchor 46 on the shank and prevent the anchor from beingunthreaded or removed from the shank. The anchor 46 is thus positionedbetween the head of the shank 25 and the stop member 50. The frictionfit of the stop member 50 on the shank 25 permits the stop member andanchor 46 to be removed from the shank by forcibly unthreading theanchor off of the threaded end of the shank if desired. The stop member50 however prevents accidental removal of the anchor by vibration orother, using friction to keep the stop member secured to the shank.

[0040] A washer 52 is provided about the shank 25 between the anchor 46and the snap head 34. The washer 52 is formed of nylon material and hasan internal opening of a diameter which is substantially equal to theouter diameter of the spacer collar 44 so as to permit the washer 52 tobe secured about the spacer collar 44 about the shank 25. An outerdiameter of the washer 52 is selected so as to span radially outwardlyfrom the shank sufficiently to conceal cracks in the gel coating 14 ofthe panel if required. The washer 52 forms a tight seal between the snaphead and the panel 12 in a mounted position as shown in FIG. 2.

[0041] The replacement male snap component 10 may be used either as thereplacement to a failed conventional male snap component or as originalequipment installed at the factory. In either instance the bore 24 isfirst drilled in the panel 12 having a diameter which is suitably sizedso as to be greater in size than the shank 25 and the fingers 48 in theflexed position along side the shank, while being smaller in size thanthe head of the shank 25 and the circumference at the free ends 49 ofthe fingers are in the relaxed position. When replacing a failedexisting male snap component, drilling the bore 24 involves removing thefractured and broken edge 22 shown in dotted line in FIG. 1, surroundingthe original installation bore.

[0042] Installation of the male snap component 10 proceeds by selectinga washer having an outer diameter which is suitably sized to cover anypossible cracks in the gel coating 14 and by assembling the componentwith the anchor 46 being spaced from the flat mounting surface 36 at thehead end of the shank a spacing which is greater than a thickness of thepanel 12. The male snap component 10 is then inserted into the bore byflexing the fingers 48 inwardly into the flexed position along side theshank until the anchor 46 is pushed fully through the bore 24 to belocated on a opposite side of the panel from the head end 26 of theshank.

[0043] When abutting the flat mounting surface 36 at the head of theshank 25 against the panel, the spacer collar 44 is aligned with thereplacement bore 24 for centering the shank within the bore. Pullingupwardly on the snap head 34 once the anchor has been fully insertedthrough the bore 24, engages the free ends 49 of the gripping fingerswith the back side of the panel 12 so that subsequent rotation of theshank 25 clamps the panel 12 between the snap head 34 and the anchor 46by action of the threads on the shank. As the shank is rotated forclamping the panel 12, the spacer collar 44 is again checked foralignment with the bore 24 to ensure proper insertion of the collarwithin the bore as the shank is rotated. Continued rotation of the shankin a direction to tighten the clamping force of the male snap component,causes the washer 52 to be slightly compressed between the head of theshank 25 and the panel 12 for ensuring a tight seal therebetween, whilethe free ends of the gripping fingers 48 flare outwardly under bendingforces to maintain a force of compression on the washer 52.

[0044] While one embodiment of the present invention has been describedin the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments arepossible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to beconsidered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A male snap component for mating with a female snap component of asnap fastener in which the female snap component comprises a socket withan annular periphery which is movable from a relaxed position to aflexed position in which the annular periphery has a greatercircumference than the relaxed position and in which the annularperiphery is urged under tension back to the relaxed position, the malesnap component comprising: a head having an annular sidewall with a mainportion of circumference approximately equal to the circumference of theannular periphery of the female snap component in the relaxed position;a shank extending from the head; and an anchor threadably supported onthe shank at a location spaced from the head and having a plurality ofgripping fingers extending in a longitudinal direction of the shank fromthe anchor towards the head.
 2. The male snap component according toclaim 1 wherein the fingers are spaced circumferentially about shank. 3.The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein the fingers projecttowards the head at an outward incline away from the shank.
 4. The malesnap component according to claim 1 wherein the fingers are flexiblebetween an inserting position adjacent the shank and an anchoringposition spaced outwardly from the shank.
 5. The male snap componentaccording to claim 1 wherein there is provided a spacer supported aboutthe shank adjacent the head which is arranged to centre the shank in abore within which the shank is inserted.
 6. The male snap componentaccording to claim 5 wherein the spacer comprises a collar threadablysupported on the shank.
 7. The male snap component according to claim 5wherein the spacer comprises a collar formed about the shank adjacentthe head.
 8. The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein thereis provided a stop member on the shank opposite the head, the anchorbeing supported on the shank between the head and the stop member. 9.The male snap component according to claim 8 wherein the stop membercomprises a collar arranged to be secured about the shank.
 10. The malesnap component according to claim 9 wherein the collar is formed ofresilient material which is fit snugly on the shank.
 11. The male snapcomponent according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a washer formedof nylon supported about the shank between the head and the anchor. 12.The male snap component according to claim 1 wherein the head includes aflared upper portion extending from the main portion opposite the shank,the flared upper portion having a greater circumference than the mainportion.
 13. A method of replacing an existing male snap component of asnap fastener supported in a bore extending through a panel structurewhich is arranged to mate with a female snap component in which thefemale snap component comprises a socket with an annular periphery whichis movable from a relaxed position to a flexed position in which theannular periphery has a greater circumference than the relaxed positionand in which the annular periphery is urged under tension back to therelaxed position, said method comprising: removing the existing malesnap component from the bore in the panel structure; providing areplacement male snap component comprising a head having an annularsidewall with a main portion of circumference approximately equal to thecircumference of the annular periphery of the female snap component inthe relaxed position, a shank extending from the head, and an anchorthreadably supported on the shank at a location spaced from the head,the anchor having a plurality of gripping fingers extending in alongitudinal direction of the shank from the anchor towards the head atan outward incline away from the shank in a relaxed position; insertingthe shank of the replacement male snap component into the bore in thepanel by flexing the fingers inwardly towards the shank until the headand anchor are located on opposing sides of the panel structure;engaging the fingers with the panel structure; and rotating the shankrelative to the anchor until the panel structure is clamped between thehead and anchor.
 14. The method according to claim 13 includingenlarging a diameter of the bore in the panel structure.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 14 wherein the bore has a diameter which is greaterthan a diameter of the shank and which is less than a diameter of thefingers in the relaxed position.
 16. The method according to claim 13including providing a spacer about the shank adjacent the head which isarranged to centre the shank within the bore.
 17. The method accordingto claim 13 including providing a washer about the shank between thehead and the anchor.
 18. The method according to claim 13 includingproviding a stop member on the shank opposite the head so as to locatethe anchor between the head and the stop member.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 13 including flexing the fingers adjacent the shankupon insertion into the bore.